SFMS-320 Sleeve Gearless Servo Flexo Printing Machine

A sleeve gearless flexo printing machine is a rotary flexographic press that has no mechanical gear train between its print units, and that uses lightweight print sleeves in place of fixed steel plate cylinders.

In a conventional geared flexo press, the plate cylinder is fixed to the gear that drives it, so the repeat is set by the number of teeth on the gear. To print a new repeat, the operator fits a different cylinder and gear set. In a gearless press, each print unit is turned directly by its own servo motor. The repeat is no longer tied to a gear, so the same unit can print a wide range of repeats. On the SFMS-320, that range is 228 to 600 mm.

The sleeve is the other half of the idea. A sleeve is a thin, light tube that carries the printing plate. It slips onto the print unit and off again, without lifting a heavy steel cylinder. Jobs can be mounted on sleeves away from the press while the current job is still running, so the press stops only for the changeover itself.

Together, the two changes give a press that changes jobs faster, holds register steadily and handles many repeat sizes without a cylinder store.

8 Motors Per Print Unit

Each print unit has its own independent drive. There is no shared gear train carrying small errors from one station to the next. Every station is controlled electronically and kept in step with the web, so registration holds from the start of a roll to the end.

Automatic Pre-Register and Re-Register

The press sets the stations into register before printing starts and corrects register while it runs. Less material is wasted at the start of each job, and the press recovers by itself if the web shifts. For plants that change jobs several times a day, this saves more than a higher top speed would.

Chilled Impression Drum

The web runs over a single chilled impression drum. The short paper path keeps registration stable, and the cooling keeps heat from stretching thin film. This is what lets the same press hold register on a 12 micron film and on a 200 GSM paper.

Motorised Impression

Impression setting is motorised. The operator sets pressure from the controls and does not adjust each station by hand, which makes setup repeatable between operators and between jobs.

10 Inch Main HMI and 7 Inch Station HMI

A 10 inch main HMI controls the line. A 7 inch HMI at each station lets the operator set that station while standing next to it. The main HMI can be moved to where the operator works.

200+ Stored Recipes

The machine stores more than 200 job recipes. A repeat job is recalled in one step, with the settings of the earlier run, so the second and third run of a customer's label start faster and closer to the first.

Auto Roll Lifter

Reels are loaded on the unwind and removed from the rewind by an auto roll lifter. Rolls up to 900 mm diameter are handled without a hoist, which saves time and reduces handling risk for the operator.

Inline Die Cutting

One to three die cutting stations can be fitted on the line, so labels leave the press cut to shape.

The reel is loaded on the unwind with the auto roll lifter. The web is guided and held at steady tension as it enters the first print unit.

At each print unit, the anilox meters ink onto the plate carried on the print sleeve, and the plate transfers the image to the web against the chilled impression drum. Each unit is turned by its own servo motor, and the control system keeps all units in register with each other.

After printing, the web passes through the drying system fitted to the machine: UV, LED UV, IR or hot air, depending on the inks you run. It then moves through the optional units on the line, such as cold foil, lamination, delam-relam or a turn bar, and into the die cutting stations. Finished labels or film are wound on the rewind, sheeted or slitted, according to the configuration.

In sequence, the line can cover:

• Unwinding with auto roll lifter
• Web treatment: corona, web cleaner or anti-static bar
• Servo flexographic printing, 2 to 12 colours
• UV, LED UV, IR or hot air drying
• Cold foil, lamination, delam-relam or turn bar (optional)
• Rotary screen printing unit (optional)
• Die cutting, 1 to 3 stations
• Rewinding, sheeting or slitting

A short comparison helps when you are deciding between the two types.

• Repeat change: a geared press needs a cylinder and gear set for each repeat. The SFMS-320 prints repeats from 228 to 600 mm on the same units, so one machine covers many label and pouch sizes.
• Job change: sleeves are light and slide on and off. The next job can be mounted on sleeves while the press is still running.
• Registration: with no gear train, there is no gear backlash. Each unit is controlled by its own motor.
• Floor and storage: sleeves take less room and are easier to store than a rack of steel cylinders.
• Handling: a sleeve can be carried by one operator.

Geared presses still make sense for plants that print one or two fixed repeats all year. If your jobs change often or your repeat sizes vary widely, the sleeve gearless press is usually the better fit.

One press that runs labels, unsupported paper, BOPP, PE, PET shrink film, blister foil and pouch film suits converters who serve several packaging markets.

Pharma Labels

Pharma labels carry small text, batch information and regulatory content that must stay sharp across the whole run. Automatic registration and a steady web help hold that detail.

Food and Beverage Labels and Pouches

Food and beverage packaging mixes paper labels, film labels and flexible pouches. The SFMS-320 prints all three on one machine, with drying chosen to suit the ink.

Personal Care and Household

Personal care and household products use multi-colour graphics, foil effects and finishes. With up to 12 colours, rail-mounted cold foil and lamination, much of that work can be done inline.

Industrial Labels

Industrial labels need durable print on the right material. The press runs the paper and film stocks normally used for identification, warning and product labels.

Shrink Film

PET shrink film is thin and sensitive to heat. The chilled impression drum and gearless servo drive hold register on films from 12 micron.

The substrate range is 12 micron to 200 GSM. Within this range the machine can run:

• Self-adhesive label stock
• Unsupported paper
• BOPP
• PE
• PET shrink film
• Blister foil
• Pouch film

The final print depends on the combination of substrate, ink, anilox, drying system and plate. RK runs a trial on your own material before almost every order, so you see the result on your film or paper before you decide.

Conventional UV, LED UV, IR and Hot Air Drying

UV and LED UV cure UV inks. IR and hot air dry water-based and solvent-based inks. The choice depends on the inks you plan to run.

Corona, Web Cleaner and Anti-Static Bar

Corona treatment raises the surface energy of film so ink bonds. The web cleaner removes dust before printing. The anti-static bar removes static from film.

Rail-Mounted Cold Foil

Applies metallic foil inline without a heated die. Used for cosmetic and premium labels.

Lamination

Applies a protective film inline.

Delam-Relam

Separates the liner from the face stock, prints on the adhesive side or the liner, and joins them again. Used for multi-layer and promotional labels.

Turn Bar

Flips the web so the back of the substrate can be printed in the same pass.

Sheeting and Slitting

Cuts the finished web into sheets or narrower rolls on the line.

Rotary Screen Printing Unit

Adds a screen printing station for heavy ink deposits, such as opaque whites and tactile effects.

Add only the units your jobs use. Extra units increase cost and machine length without adding output.

The SFMS-320 sits at the top of the RK flexo range. Depending on your requirement, one of these machines may suit better:

• Flexo Printing Machine With Full Servoone servo per station, 2 to 12 colours, web widths from 320 to 670 mm.
• Vertical-Tower Machineflexo printing with inline die cutting in a compact footprint.
• Intermittent Die Cutting Machinehalf cut and full cut for printed rolls.

RK Label Printing Machinery Pvt. Ltd. has been manufacturing label printing and converting machinery since 1995 from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The company operates three manufacturing units in Gujarat and supplies machinery to customers across 23+ countries.

RK builds the machine around the customer's jobs. The number of colours, drying, die cutting stations and optional units are chosen against your actual work. RK also manufactures flatbed and rotary die cutting machines, label inspection machines, slitting machines and shrink sleeve machines, so the full line can come from one supplier.

Start from the jobs you run, not from the largest specification.

• What substrates do you print? The range is 12 micron to 200 GSM. For mostly film, the chilled drum and the drying choice matter most.
• How many colours do your jobs use? The press is available from 2 to 12 colours. Count the colours on your regular jobs, not the occasional ones.
• What repeats do you print? The range is 228 to 600 mm. Check your label and pouch sizes against it.
• Which drying fits your inks? Choose from conventional UV, LED UV, IR and hot air.
• Do you need die cutting? One to three stations can be fitted.
• Which finishing do you need? Cold foil, lamination, delam-relam, turn bar, sheeting, slitting and a screen printing unit are options.
• How much floor space do you have? The machine is 8 ft high and 6 ft wide, with a length of 18.5 to 40 ft depending on the number of units and options. RK shares a dimensioned layout drawing before installation.

The price depends on the configuration: number of colours, drying system, die cutting stations, sleeves and the optional units all affect the final cost.

Prices are quoted ex-works Ahmedabad, with GST at 18% extra. Engineer travel and stay for installation and training at the customer's site are borne by the customer.

Share your substrate, repeat sizes, number of colours, production target and finishing needs with RK Label Machines. The engineering team will recommend a configuration and quote against it.